Lady Choctaws win fourth straight region championship

The Dyer County Lady Choctaws show off their fourth straight Region 7AA Tournament Championship plaque following their three-set sweep of Crockett County in the finals on Tuesday night in Newbern.

Photo/Jason Peevyhouse

By JASON PEEVYHOUSE

Sports Editor

The Dyer County volleyball team took another step towards returning to the TSSAA Class AA State Tournament for the fourth straight season and picked up some hardware along the way, sweeping Crockett County in the Region 7AA Championship Game on Tuesday night in Newbern.

A trio of Lady Choctaws received Region 7AA All-Region honors following Dyer County's win in Tuesday night's championship game. Players honored were (from left) Teagan Reed (All-Tournament), Rylee Key (Region 7AA Tournament Most Valuable Player), and Ava Huke (All-Tournament).

Photo/Jason Peevyhouse

The win marks the fourth straight region championship for the Lady Choctaws and puts them one win away from clinching a spot in next week’s Class AA State Tournament in Murfreesboro.

“I told the girls yesterday then again today before we were getting ready to play that we would have to be able to control the ball on our side of the court,” Dyer County Head Coach Shanna O’Bright said. “It doesn’t matter what the opposing team does or has, we control what goes on on our side and not worry about anything else.”

The Lady Choctaws got off to a strong start for the second straight night, getting two kills from Rylee Key and another by Emma Wray to take a 4-0 lead early. Though Crockett County answered, the Lady Choctaws kept the pressure on with more kills from Key and Teagan Reed along with an Ava Huke block to build a 15-6 lead. Dyer County added kills from Wray, Key, Reed and Hike down the stretch to take the first set 25-17.

The Lady Cavaliers came out stronger in the second set, taking an early lead though kills from Key and Reed kept the game close. Crockett County built a four point lead before a pair of Huke blocks cut the Lady Cavs lead to 8-7. Dyer County, though, was unable to pull even until later in the set when a Huke kill tied the game at 16-16. A pair of Reed aces put Dyer County on top 19-17 with the Lady Choctaws getting three straight blocks – one from Huke then two more by Key – to help the orange and white take a 25-21 win in the second set.

“We made some more errors in that set than we did in the other two sets,” O’Bright admitted. “But, we maintained and we kept our composure and ended up pulling it out.”

Dyer County got off to a nearly identical start to the third set as it did in the opener with a Kierstyn Ray ace putting the Lady Choctaws up 3-0. Dyer County got kills from Key, Reed and Huke to take a 12-5 lead later in the frame. Though the Lady Cavaliers cut it to 12-8 moments later, a Wray kill helped spark a 13-7 run down the stretch to take the third set 25-15 and the Region 7AA Championship which came with it.

Following the win, the Lady Choctaw head coach agreed the second set could be one which helps them down the line this postseason.

“I think overcoming adversity is a big part of this game,” O’Bright explained. “Being able to just, again, not lose focus and just stay the course, make good decisions with the ball, and shake off mistakes.

“I’m just really proud of them.”

Dyer County will play the loser of the Region 8AA Championship between Millington and Covington which was also played on Tuesday night. Time is to be determined.